How Smartphones Impact Society
How does smartphones influence people when they are communicating? How do people use smartphones? How does smartphones change our life in communications?
Mobile is the new Internet. With nearly 4 billion mobile phones, the size and reach of the mobile market is vastly bigger than the PC industry (Berman, 2013). The smartphone is leading the pack. By definition, a smartphone is a cellphone with brains. In other words, it is smart enough to do much more than just make phone calls. It serves as a handheld computer, personal calendar, web browser, calculator, e-reader, and database (Agger, 2011). Perhaps most important, a smart phone is able to receive wireless calls. Traditional cell phones can also send and receive email or allow for web browsing; however, most lack the ease and flexibility offered by a smartphone. The smartphone has quickly become the preferred computing device for many Americans, and are predicted to be owned by nearly 90% of all consumers in the United States by the year 2015 (Exact Target, 2011).
Noteworthy characteristics of smartphones include their miniature keyboards that come complete with keypad shortcuts to allow for more seamless texting. Smartphones also allow users to download Word and PDF attachments and view them on screens that are actually large enough so that messages are legible. Anywhere internet access is a standard feature of smartphones. The devices use the phone’s mobile-network connection and special data plans available at an extra monthly fee for network-driven functions such as email and instant messaging (Agger, 2011). Smartphones range in size and shape, with most being small enough to fit into a pocket.
The world of innovative technical solutions has shaped the way we communicate, collaborate, and interact today. Smart phones are for the most part, communication devices, with additional computing power built in. The fact that they are more comparable to personal computers means that users have more options. User activities are fully supported through effective functionality that speeds networking between people. There is more emphasis on social settings and communication needs than on computation (Berman, 2013). This paper will focus on the ways that smartphone technology has led changed information sharing and social connections — interactions that would be difficult or impossible to achieve without smart phone technology.
Not only is the smartphone uniquely qualified for enhanced digital communication, it can also create interesting content in the form of video, audio, or text. Its two-way functionality and information sharing is ideal for supportive social computing (Agger, 2011). The fact that many of us are dependent on these devices alludes to their utility, effectiveness and pervasiveness in our life (Berman, 2013). According to Agger, we can expect to see smartphones as a percentage of all mobile phones grow from 13.4% in 2009 to 25.2% by 2014 (2011). In particular, we can consider several categories of smart phone applications and how they have improved connectivity and information sharing in our society.
Most people actually use their smartphones to make phone calls, which is still the most common usage of the device (Agger, 2011). 31% of consumers say they use their smart phones to make calls “constantly throughout the day,” while 69% make several phone calls each day (Exact Target, 2011). In total, 87% indicate making at least one call per day. Studies suggest texting is a second most popular usage of smartphones, with over 50% of users texting several times per day. Email is the third most common activity, with over 53% of consumers reporting to use their smartphone to check email several times per day (Exact Target, 2011). Web browsing is also a top smartphone activity with general web surfing or news reading being reported as the most common activities (Berman, 2013).
To further support interactions and communications between individual people, the smartphone offers new experiences through social media (Agger, 2011). Facebook is the only social media outlet used by a majority of smartphone owners on a daily basis (Exact Target, 2011). Most log in each day and stay connected, while others check in at least daily. This includes both men and women of all social classes and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Smartphones have screens suitable for higher resolutions on information displays. They offer impressive processing power, data memory and low-to-no cost short- and long-range connections. (Agger, 2011).
Almost all smart phones also support Bluetooth communication, a wireless standard offering free local connectivity. Bluetooth technology lets devices discover each other and exchange data with differing levels of user input. As a result of these features and capabilities, people stay in constant communication. Today, smartphone users can access and update their dating profiles, search for loved ones, apply for jobs, attend college classes, blog and shop (Berman, 2013). This marks a new day in technology.
Another emerging trend in smartphone use is access to healthcare information and public health awareness. Doctors and public health officials are finding that smartphones can be wonderful tools for disseminating public health information and carrying out community interventions (Fenske, 2013). As more people globally begin to use smartphones, health apps became more popular. Additionally, health promotion professionals can now reach minority populations who are early adopters of smartphone technology. Everything from anti-tobacco to anti-obesity messages has found willing audiences through smartphone technology. This can help shape consumer health/health behavior and educate the masses. Today, the development of health promotion programs using smartphones and apps offers guidelines for chronic disease management, improved physician-patient interaction, and improved access to services from a distance (Fenske, 2013).
Smartphones have also had a direct effect on education. In the United States and elsewhere, smartphone technology has enhanced educational attainment and experiences (Agger, 2011). Critical thinking and virtual interactions are required and as a result, users must sharpen their analytical skills. Instant access to information and portability have also made the educational use of smartphones excellent options for those in developing nations, where the devices do not just complement educational experiences but may be the only means of having them. Smartphones offer access to resources across the world and make it easier for people everywhere to learn, share information and compete in the global marketplace (Berman, 2013).
Smartphones have also impacted the way we conduct business and carry out financial transactions (Agger, 2011). Smartphones offer 24/7 access that includes identity verification and direct payment mechanisms. Users can check their bank accounts and contact customer service with questions and receive text or phone replies. Today, most smartphones also allow for virtual check deposits by utilizing the built in smart phone camera to send front and back images of a signed check. This eliminates bank trips or envelopes and stamps (Berman, 2013). Shopping is also a common activity. In 2011, over 50% of consumers reported completing purchases online using smartphone apps from their favorite stores and vendors (Exact Target, 2011). This has led to an increase in mobile and smartphone advertising. The reach and diversity of the mobile audience makes smartphone platforms ideal for marketing and promotion.
Applications, or apps, have revolutionized communication. Smartphone owners use apps for nearly every conceivable need (Berman, 2013). Shopping apps have become increasingly common. This attraction to smartphones for purchasing decisions is also reflected in unexpected industries such as travel and tourism. It is estimated that 15 million U.S. internet users carry out travel research using online travel sites each month (Exact Target, 2011). An estimated 38% of travelers have used their smartphones to plan a trip, read about destinations, research traveler reviews, book or review accommodations, and book or review flights. Further, while traveling, more than 60% of travelers said they use their mobile devices to research restaurants, use GPS technology and tools, check their flight status and find local attractions. The only challenge seems to be sporadic connectivity abroad, but most smartphone users find their apps offer them a great deal of flexibility and convenience (Agger, 2011).
It is also evident that smartphones have changed the way media and journalism function in society. Through built-in smartphone cameras, videos and photos can be taken and shared by everyday consumers. This makes not only access to news and information more timely, but also diversifies the viewpoint from which we learn about the latest happenings in our society and abroad (Agger, 2011). Gone are the days of relying on mainstream media to gather the facts, analyze or spin them, and report them to the masses. Smartphones allow virtually anyone to be a reporter, although there are some risks associated with this – including photo and video manipulations passed off as factual depictions of circumstances surrounding an event (Berman, 2013).
It is worth noting that there are a number of critics that point out that the impact of smartphones on society is not all positive (Agger, 2011). There are those that cite smartphones as being to invasive and making it easier for some, particularly children, to fall victim to cyber-bullying, identify theft, and violations of privacy (McGreavy, 2012). Children may also be targets for robbery because of their expensive smartphones. In addition, there are not very strong parental controls in place to protect youth from pornography, violent images or sexually explicit content. Other critics state that smartphones contribute to social isolation and social anxiety, decreasing our ability to having meaningful human connections in our life and build truly personal, real-life relationships (McGreavy, 2012). It is true that smartphones foster greater communication and connectivity, but there are also downsides, negatives and precautions that need to be taking into consideration.
Conclusion
Smartphones do appear to be the way of the future. Even as the recession hit a high back in 2009, smartphone sales increased (Agger, 2011). We have come to look on smartphone devices, apps and instant deliverables as a way to improve our way of life. This almost seems to indicate that society today is evolving around smartphones and not the other way around. As a result of smartphone popularity, businesses, colleges, developers of websites and social media have all had to give considerable attention to the web usability of smartphones when designing their sites. Websites have to be much more streamlined in terms of design, content and navigation. Chances are smartphones will continue to be the primary mechanism by which the public will interact with these sites, so there is risk in losing vast numbers of potential visitors if proper adoptions are not considered.
Psychologists do warn that we may be opening a Pandora’s Box of constant intrusions into our personal worlds and eventually find ourselves feeling the need to always be connected and accessible — never allowed downtown to get back to life offline and enjoy real life interactions with family, friends, neighbors and the communities we live in. While there are some dangers involved with being too engrossed in a good thing, smartphones offer many benefits that seem to outweigh the negatives. Smartphones are advancing at a rapid rate and will most likely continue to do so until the next technological breakthrough.
References
Agger, B. (2011). iTime: Labor and life in a smartphone era. Time & Society, 20(1), 119-136. doi:10.1177/0961463X10380730
Berman, D.K. (2013, May). Why Aren’t Smartphones Making Us More Productive?. Wall Street Journal – Eastern Edition. pp. B1-B2.
ExactTarget. (2011). Mobile Dependence Day, New Research finds reliance on smartphone driving changes in consumers’ purchase habits. Retrieved May 5, 2013 from http://www.exacttarget.com/company/news-and-press-releases/viewstory/smid/756/ArticleID/80.aspx.
Fenske, S. (2013). Distributing Healthcare. Medical Design Technology, 17(3), 6.
McGreavy, J. (2012). Always Connected, But Always Distracted. InformationWeek, (1354), 8.
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
GET A PERFECT SCORE!!! 
Delivering a high-quality product at a reasonable price is not enough anymore.
That’s why we have developed 5 beneficial guarantees that will make your experience with our service enjoyable, easy, and safe.
You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.
Read moreEach paper is composed from scratch, according to your instructions. It is then checked by our plagiarism-detection software. There is no gap where plagiarism could squeeze in.
Read moreThanks to our free revisions, there is no way for you to be unsatisfied. We will work on your paper until you are completely happy with the result.
Read moreYour email is safe, as we store it according to international data protection rules. Your bank details are secure, as we use only reliable payment systems.
Read moreBy sending us your money, you buy the service we provide. Check out our terms and conditions if you prefer business talks to be laid out in official language.
Read more